Ten minutes later, Chloe could not bear the cold any longer and weakly tugged at Joseph's sleeve, laughing dryly. "I’m getting kind of cold now. Can we close the windows?"As a gentleman, Joseph replied, "Why of course."He immediately had Patrick close the car windows.The flicker of amusement that crossed his eyes did not escape Chloe's notice. She realized he was toying with her, but she had no other choice but to clench her teeth and bear it, in light of the fact that she was wearing the dress he had bought for her.Harold was waiting outside the house with his cane in hand, anxiously looking out for them. The car stopped outside the large mansion that was as grand as a castle, and Chloe felt something was amiss when she saw it.Although Jake's uncle was wealthy, his family was not considered one of the wealthiest in Aesper. How could they afford such an extravagant estate worth billions while he was just a financial analyst?She asked in a low voice, "Is this your ancestral
"Tsk…" Joseph sat down, leaning lazily into his chair and putting his long legs up on the coffee table as he spoke in a sarcastic tone, "If you're so capable, why don't you become a doctor? Those other doctors would surely worship you for your ability to control women's reproductive cycles.""What nonsense are you spouting? I'm already old, so is it wrong for me to want to hold a great-grandchild?" Harold's expression became livid. "Besides, you went ahead and registered your marriage with Coco without even having a wedding or giving her any gifts. What do you think people will think of her?"This remark caused a sense of warmth to blossom in Chloe's chest. She poured a cup of tea for Harold and explained in a gentle voice, "Grandpa, it's not his fault. It was my decision to not hold a wedding since we're both so busy with work. Besides, as long as we love each other, having a wedding or not doesn't matter.""No, this is unacceptable. A person only gets married once in their lifetim
"Take that card I gave you earlier as your salary."Chloe stared in disbelief at the document lying on the table, her mind blank. Then, a smile slowly spread across her face, revealing a row of straight pearly whites."Thanks a bunch, Jojo," she said.'Now I can finally use your card without scruples!'She suspected that he was concerned that she might be reluctant to spend his money and thus had arranged a job for her.‘Looks like he can be pretty sweet and considerate at times.'Joseph's eyebrows went up slightly, and the indifference on his face melted a little as he chuckled. "If you want to thank me, just stop making terrible food.""I'll enroll in a cooking class!" she said.'But with your money!'Chloe struggled with the documents Joseph had given her due to all the financial jargon written on them. After translating two pages, she leaned against the table and closed her eyes, intending to take a quick break, but ended up drifting off to sleep.She was roused by a furr
Half an hour later, Chloe appeared in front of everyone holding Ginny's hand.Joseph's eyes flickered with surprise. Ginny was a sheltered child. Despite not being mischievous, she was timid, especially around unfamiliar people. It seemed to him that Chloe possessed some commendable traits.At the very least, she knew her way around kids.Ginny went around the crowd, showing off to everyone her new hairstyle. It had been tied up in a pair of symmetrical buns, each on one side of her head. It accentuated her adorable features, making her look like a little fairy."This hairstyle looks good on you, Ginny. It's good to know that my granddaughter-in-law is good with her hands," Harold praised generously."That's right. Her hands are like magic.""Someone who is usually good with their hands probably cooks very well too.""You're so fortunate to have a wife like her, Joseph."All of the people nodded and agreed with Harold.Blushing and smiling shyly, Chloe took a seat next to Jose
"It's okay. I'll just grab a cab," Chloe said as she smiled at him."Okay," Icarus replied as he waved. "See you next Wednesday."They were having another class next Wednesday."See you."After Icarus left, Chloe took her phone out and called for a cab.As Icarus walked into the underground parking lot, he received a phone call from his nephew, Jake."Uncle Icarus, Ava and I are getting engaged next month. You have to come!”"Is Ava your girlfriend from college?"There was a pause on the other end of the phone, and Jake replied slowly, "No, Uncle Icarus. That ex and I broke up a long time ago."Icarus did not say much, knowing that it was normal for young people to fall in and out of love. He agreed to come to the engagement and promised to be there on the day.Jake hung up the phone and turned to Ava. "Uncle Icarus promised to come. I'll introduce him to you on that day. He's a powerful figure in the financial industry."Ava nodded meekly and her eyes sparkled with exciteme
When Joseph came back from work, he found Chloe in the kitchen, chopping potatoes with a knife. She looked as if she had a deep grudge against the potatoes, for she was smashing instead of chopping them."Who upset you?" Chloe paused and turned around to look at him, knife in hand."A moron," she said begrudgingly.'Yes, a moron. And that nutjob of a moron is your nephew!'After a look of confusion, Joseph went upstairs to clean up.For dinner tonight, they had beef potato stew, oven-roasted vegetables, and Greek salad."I took a crash course on cooking today. Want to try the result of my learning?" Chloe asked.Joseph took a bite of the beef and said, "Well, there isn't much difference from the previous days.""Today’s only the first day, okay?" Chloe replied. "Give me a month and I'll surprise you.""We'll see," Joseph said.Although he said the food was not great, he enjoyed the meal very much.Chloe retired to her room to continue her work after dinner. Shortly after,
By the time Joseph came back with the car keys, Chloe’s mind was still swimming."Hmm?" He raised his eyebrows. "What's the matter? Let's go."Chloe fiddled with the buttons of her coat and demurely said, "Is it too much trouble for you to drive me this late at night?"Despite not being emotionally prepared to confess to Jake yet, the idea of him seeing her with his uncle and losing his confidence was too big of a temptation to let go. Just the thought of that scene sent shivers of joy down her spine.Unfortunately, Joseph misconstrued her intentions and his expression turned sour as he quipped, "Don't worry. I just happened to be heading back to the office and it’s along the way. I won't be a hindrance to your secret meeting with your paramour.""What paramour?" Chloe was taken aback, and it was not until a moment later that she realized the meaning behind his odd tone. She took a few steps closer, smiling slyly as she stared at him. "Are you jealous?"Otherwise, why would he so
It seemed that Ava was still proficient in twisting the truth.Ignoring her sister, Chloe placed a bag on the table and said in a flat tone, "These are all the jewelry and clothes you gave me. The dolls and such are at the Johnsons'."Ava grabbed Chloe’s hand and asked worriedly, "Where have you been staying the past few days?""Does it matter?""I asked Em and she said you haven't been at her place." Ava bit her lip, her voice thick with concern. "You should come. It's not safe for a girl to stay outside alone."Jake knew a thing or two about Chloe's involvement with an older man and a mixture of disdain and disappointment filled his heart. On one hand, he felt responsible for her downfall, but on the other, he felt she should not just give up on herself even though their relationship did not work out."Ava’s right. It's not right for a girl to be alone. Go back home," Jake chimed in and said in a preachy tone.Chloe was speechless. "Is there something wrong with you guys?"Af
After Chloe calmed herself, she realized that the place she was in resembled the villa she lived in while overseas five years ago. However, upon closer inspection, the exterior scenery was different. She realized something and froze."Did you build a villa identical to the one I stayed in five years ago?" she asked.Noah was busy bandaging himself. Upon hearing her question, he replied, "Yeah, doesn't it look almost identical?"Chloe's gaze swept over every item in the room, and she admitted that she was touched. She turned back to Noah and looked at him gently as if she had returned to the time when she simply treated him as a little brother."How did you convince Tiffany to cooperate with you?"Tiffany had made her move while Noah distracted Desmond."I just told her about it, and she agreed."Chloe asked, "Do you think you’re treating her fairly?"Noah said flatly, "I’ll compensate her."Compensate? How? Chloe thought that youth was the most precious thing in the world, but
In the Whitman family home, Joseph went to deal with a bunch of urgent company matters after putting Jasper to sleep. By the time he finished, it was already past three in the morning. He contemplated calling Chloe to ask about Noah's situation, but thinking it might disrupt her sleep, he abandoned the idea.When Joseph woke up the next day, it was already half past six. He recalled Chloe mentioning that Exotic Star had a new product launching today and that she would have to wake up early. He reached for his phone on the table, intending to call her.However, his hand slipped and the phone fell to the floor. The loud thud caused his heart to tremble. He stared at the shattered phone screen as he got a bad feeling. He grabbed his spare phone and quickly dialed Chloe's number. After ringing for some time, a cold, mechanical voice informed him that there was no one available to answer at the moment. Without hesitation, he immediately headed to the Sullivan Manor. When Joseph got ther
“Yes, Grandpa, and I hope you won't stop me when the time comes," Noah said. "You're not discussing this with me. You're just informing me!" Desmond said exasperatedly. "I'm sorry, Grandpa.”Desmond hemmed and hawed for a long while, at a loss for words. He seemed to age ten years as he stared into the distance through the window. After a while, he said, "I've already had someone contact doctors abroad regarding your condition, so don't worry. All you have to do now is just focus on recovering. Don't give up so soon."Sensing Desmond's determination, Noah's eyes filled with tears. He too wished to spend a few more years with his grandfather.When they arrived at the Sullivan manor, the foreign doctors had replied. Upon learning that the renowned healer, Z, had treated Noah but only achieved limited success, they decided not to intervene.Noah was not discouraged by this. He comforted Desmond and said, "Grandpa, I would like to go abroad for a few days. It's been a long time sin
Half an hour later, Desmond and Noah walked out of the ward together.Desmond said, "The doctor told you to stay in the hospital for a few more days, so why don't you just listen? If something happens to you again, they can treat you immediately."Noah smiled warmly and said, "It's okay. The medical equipment at home is sufficient."Desmond sighed. It would be good if Noah stayed at home as well. At least there would be more pairs of eyes on him.Desmond instructed the driver to come to the hospital’s basement car park. When he hung up the phone, he looked around the corridor and wondered, "Wasn't Chloe just sitting here? Where is she?"Noah did not say anything and just lowered his head."And where's Tiffany too? Call her. We need to go home," Desmond said as he took his phone out to call Chloe.However, Chloe did not answer his call. Noah did not call Tiffany. Instead, he said, "Her brother had something to discuss with her, so he came by and brought her home. Maybe Chloe ha
Chloe looked at Tiffany and said sarcastically, "Not everyone is willing to contribute their entire life knowing that the other person doesn't like them."Tiffany had a heart problem. She might die at any moment, yet she chose to live around someone who did not love her back. Chloe often marveled at the greatness of love, but she would never possess such a sacrificial spirit.Tiffany laughed coldly. "It’s because I have compassion and you don't. When Xavia died before your eyes, you just coldly stared at her body."Chloe raised her head sharply, glared at Tiffany, and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Xavia took my child, stole my man, and wrecked my marriage! She nearly got me killed several times! If she hadn’t died, it might have been me! I should've celebrated her death with fireworks! None of you know what I've been through, so stop pointing fingers at me!"At first, she had felt responsible for Xavia's death, but she had since come to her senses. Xavia's death had nothing to
Desmond was taken aback that he even forgot his cane and almost tripped on the carpet. He quickly got back up and headed for the second floor. The butler immediately called for an ambulance while the other housekeepers guided the panicked guests away.Chloe furrowed her brows, following Desmond into Noah's bedroom. The curtains were drawn tightly, blocking out all light. But just standing at the door, one could detect the strong scent of rust from inside.A helper flipped a switch, and the room was flooded with light. The wooden furniture was neatly arranged while neatly folded clothes sat on the sofa.Chloe looked around but did not see Noah. She then looked toward the bathroom and her face sank.Tiffany pointed to the bathroom and said, "He's in there."Desmond trembled as he pushed open the bathroom door. Inside was a mess, with red stains covering the floor. Noah was in the bathtub, his wet clothes clinging to his body. His arms hung limply over the tub's edge, and his head sl
Chloe did not know how to answer."Say something. You wanted her dead, right? Are you happy now that she is dead?!” Kenneth shouted angrily at her, his eyes bloodshot and his gaze piercing.He was so loud that it drew the attention of many nearby. Callum and Joseph rushed over, and Joseph shielded Chloe behind him. He pushed Kenneth back several steps and said sternly, "Never speak of that woman in front of Chloe again. Otherwise, there'll be consequences!""Hah! Are you protecting a murderer?" Kenneth laughed. "Oh yeah, you’re both responsible for Xavia's death after all."Smack!Callum slapped Kenneth across the face, instantly silencing him. "Get a grip, Ken! Xavia deserved to die. Stop embarrassing yourself in front of Chloe.”Kenneth held his face as he muttered, "Yeah, you're right… Xavia should’ve died. She was evil. She deceived and took advantage of me… She should die..."Then why was he so tormented over her death? He could not sleep or eat. He knew Xavia deserved th
Joseph frowned. "Of course not. Her death has nothing to do with you. Promise me you won’t think such thoughts."The unexpected turn of events caught both Chloe and him off guard. Xavia clearly wanted to haunt Chloe forever by killing herself in front of her. Although he felt shocked, he was not deeply shaken. After all, he had not witnessed Xavia's jump, and Xavia probably thought that the third floor was not enough to kill her. After all, being in the hospital for treatment was better than being detained by the police.Chloe looked at Joseph with vacant eyes and smiled bitterly. "You're right. It’s good that she's finally dead. She got what she deserved, and I should be happy," she said."Exactly. Even if she didn't jump, the police would’ve arrested her," Joseph said gently, "It's my fault for asking you to buy us some time. If she comes back as a ghost to haunt you, I'll stop her."Joseph, Tyson, and a few officers had arrived just moments after Xavia jumped. He had brought a g
Everyone erupted into gasps. As a deafening crash came from below, the staff scattered. Some ran downstairs to try and rescue Iris. Some who had rushed to the windows shouted anxiously, "She's still alive!"Everyone around Chloe was running as her mind was filled with an endless ringing. The whole world became a blur. She never imagined that things would end like this. The meeting hall was on the third floor. It was not too high, but it could be fatal if one were to land on their head. Everyone's accusatory gaze fell on Chloe, and the crowd started to murmur."Damn, how could she do this to Iris? Do you think she’ll be haunted by nightmares tonight?""Yeah, why does she insist that Iris is Xavia?""What if Iris dies? Won’t Ms. Chloe indirectly become a murderer?""Do you think Iris will come for revenge in the middle of the night when she dies?"Something inside Chloe snapped, and she shouted, "It wasn't me! What she did has nothing to do with me!"Her outburst silenced the ro